chapter 12b
(The Gift)
Moïse Berri
and the Reconstruction of the Haitian
and the Reconstruction of the Haitian
Space Agency
by Jude Jarda
12b
The Gift
Teesha Howard is contemplating the important changes made on the Dodge Caravan of her disabled father. A stainless steel wheelchair ramp was added to the vehicle, and the whole suspension was modified; John Milton Howard will be able to travel across town with more freedom despite his handicap. The retired physical education teacher could hardly hold his tears when he was welcomed with a round of applause at Lorenzo's Body Shop.
Achilles Hector Legitime shows up at the garage with more good news for Mr. Howard: the elevator that should help him save at least half an hour every time he needs to set foot in or out of his house will be installed and be fully functional by Saturday evening. Achilles Hector is all smiles when he shares this moment of joy with his fellow man, but Teesha can see right through him.
“Something is bugging you,” the teenage girl says with a lot of empathy.
Achilles Hector Legitime shows up at the garage with more good news for Mr. Howard: the elevator that should help him save at least half an hour every time he needs to set foot in or out of his house will be installed and be fully functional by Saturday evening. Achilles Hector is all smiles when he shares this moment of joy with his fellow man, but Teesha can see right through him.
“Something is bugging you,” the teenage girl says with a lot of empathy.
“It's nothing serious, Teesha, a little war of words with my older brother Ulysses. I'm leaving for Chicago tonight to dig him out of some muddy quicksand he slipped himself into. I wasn't expecting that. My weekend plans have been flushed down the toilet, but I had no choice. What he is going through must be very challenging. Imagine a person allergic to bees and afraid of them being forced to spend the night in a honey plant next to the actual hives.”
“Why would someone oblige him to do so?”
“Forget that, love. Where is your dad?”
“He is still hiding in the bathroom. My father didn't want Brother Odelin and Dudley to see him in tears. I overheard them saying that your brother was having money problems. Isn't he like... ultra loaded, like a multi billionaire tycoon or something worse?”
“He is rich all right, but that's not what he needs at this point. Our prayers will be more helpful if I don't find a way to pull him out of this new trial.”
“Hope everything goes well for him. I'd like to thank you for what you've done for my old man, Reverend. I appreciate the fact that all of this is concrete, not just some empty promise. You are really making things easier and practical for him. My dad is a good man and he deserves this. Even when he was living off welfare, he never ceased to help people in a deeper hole than him. He'd send a peanut butter jar full of pennies or old clothes he got from the Salvation Army to the Baptist Mission and to the orphanage of Mr. Saint-Saëns, back in Haiti. You can see pictures of all their little angels on Immaculée Lamisère's Facebook profile. One of them is going to medical school next fall. Another one proved himself so much better and efficient then their Chinese electrician that he is skipping his last high school year to go straight to polytechnic.”
“Has he been in the bathroom long? I'm a bit in a hurry here, I haven't decided if I'm going to Chicago by plane or by train. You tell him I said hi.”
“I will. See you soon and good luck with your brother.”
“Does that mean we might meet at the temple anytime soon?”
“I'm still pursuing my spiritual search. My experience with Buddhism left me on my thirst. By the way, Reverend, I couldn't help overhearing a bizarre conversation between Brother Odelin, Dudley and my father. What's going on with Reverend Lamisère, does he take all of you for a bunch of donkeys?”
“Why would someone oblige him to do so?”
“Forget that, love. Where is your dad?”
“He is still hiding in the bathroom. My father didn't want Brother Odelin and Dudley to see him in tears. I overheard them saying that your brother was having money problems. Isn't he like... ultra loaded, like a multi billionaire tycoon or something worse?”
“He is rich all right, but that's not what he needs at this point. Our prayers will be more helpful if I don't find a way to pull him out of this new trial.”
“Hope everything goes well for him. I'd like to thank you for what you've done for my old man, Reverend. I appreciate the fact that all of this is concrete, not just some empty promise. You are really making things easier and practical for him. My dad is a good man and he deserves this. Even when he was living off welfare, he never ceased to help people in a deeper hole than him. He'd send a peanut butter jar full of pennies or old clothes he got from the Salvation Army to the Baptist Mission and to the orphanage of Mr. Saint-Saëns, back in Haiti. You can see pictures of all their little angels on Immaculée Lamisère's Facebook profile. One of them is going to medical school next fall. Another one proved himself so much better and efficient then their Chinese electrician that he is skipping his last high school year to go straight to polytechnic.”
“Has he been in the bathroom long? I'm a bit in a hurry here, I haven't decided if I'm going to Chicago by plane or by train. You tell him I said hi.”
“I will. See you soon and good luck with your brother.”
“Does that mean we might meet at the temple anytime soon?”
“I'm still pursuing my spiritual search. My experience with Buddhism left me on my thirst. By the way, Reverend, I couldn't help overhearing a bizarre conversation between Brother Odelin, Dudley and my father. What's going on with Reverend Lamisère, does he take all of you for a bunch of donkeys?”
“What are you saying?”
“His so called gambling problem is clearly a lie.”
“I'm starting to believe that nobody in this town can keep a secret. That's confidential stuff, young girl. Listen, Teesha, the mental suffering of Reverend Lamisère is real. I was a gambler once and I can tell you that it is indeed a very debilitating disease. His situation should not be taken lightly and we should keep it private.”
“I agree, but sooner or later, the other members of the congregation are going to ask some questions and expect the right answers. My dad knows a ton of black jack and roulette players who spent entire days with the reverend. They all maintain that he was not a serious gambler. So tell me how he could have blown two million bucks at the casino in such a short period, while betting on the five dollar tables? That doesn't add up.”
“I agree, but sooner or later, the other members of the congregation are going to ask some questions and expect the right answers. My dad knows a ton of black jack and roulette players who spent entire days with the reverend. They all maintain that he was not a serious gambler. So tell me how he could have blown two million bucks at the casino in such a short period, while betting on the five dollar tables? That doesn't add up.”
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